By
Sean Dudley |
This article was first published in the Spring/Summer 2017 issue of International Cruise & Ferry Review. All information was correct at the time of printing, but may since have changed.
Cruise and ferry passengers may not pay much thought to how they get on and off a ship. But Barcelona-based ADELTE knows the importance of efficiency and efficacy in the boarding bridge space.
Jordi Floreta, vice president and commercial director at ADELTE, says that when working in the cruise and ferry industry, the focus must always be on meeting the needs of passengers.
“We enable the easy and safe transfer of passengers, but we also design boarding bridges, and work with ports to improve all logistic operations on the quayside and passenger flow for example,” he says. “Our first boarding bridge was installed in 1998 at the Port of Barcelona, and we have gone on to successfully deliver more than 110 units all over the world. Our core clients are terminal operators, port authorities and cruise and ferry lines, but above all else are the passengers themselves.”
With each port and vessel having different configurations and needs, flexibility is key for ADELTE.
“We must consider the wharf layout and load capacity, port traffic and shoreside logistics, the range of vessels being served, passenger flows, security and climate conditions, among other things,” says Floreta. “We try to match with the style preferences of the terminal. We deliver a safe product, but one that is unique and impressive.”
ADELTE custom designs all its passenger boarding bridges, meaning it can easily easily comply with any specific requirements and can meet the subtle differences between the needs of cruise vessels and ferry vessels.
“On ferries, the speed of the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers is vital,” Floreta explains. “The tunnels tend to be larger to allow for a better flow of passengers. On cruise ships, the passenger experience is more important. We must also think about adapting our design to meet the vessels of the future.”
ADELTE looks after its bridges throughout their lifecycle, which typically lasts between 20 and 30 years. The company carries out technical inspections, maintenance and repairs, and has a global support team.
The company now has a total of six boarding bridges operating at Port Canaveral, following delivery on its third contract with the port. The most recent were HYDRA type passenger boarding bridges, delivered in June and November 2016 as part of the port’s renovation of its cruise terminals 5 and 10.
“It’s very important we guarantee our clients that when a ship arrives, all passengers can disembark in a safe way, including of course those with reduced mobility,” Floreta says. “We also invest in new technologies focusing on safety, as well as automation systems and remote monitoring.”
Innovation forms a vital part of the company’s philosophy. Floreta says: “As a leader in the sector, we have an obligation to work hard on innovation. We have developed a number of patented technologies, and believe that this level of innovation helps us to stay at the forefront of the industry.”
Looking forward, 2017 is shaping up to be a prosperous year for ADELTE, with ten contracts already signed and the delivery of 15 seaport passenger boarding bridges on the company’s schedule in Europe, North America and Asia.